8Ron's DILEMMA
CHAPTER ONE
Sixth year Quidditch captain Harry Potter was concerned as he slowly walked back to the castle. He was worried about the match with Slytherin tomorrow morning. His team had just come from practice and he was content with the play of his chasers and beaters, and he knew he was the best seeker in the school, but his keeper just played like dragon dung today. Once again, Ron's nerves and lack of confidence kept him from playing well at all. Harry knew that Ron was a great keeper when he believed he was, when he believed in himself, but all the encouragement from his teammates couldn't get him there. He needed to know it himself. If Ron was secure and confident in his own abilities, Ron would be great and Harry knew that Slytherin wouldn't stand a chance.
Harry stopped and leaned against the hallway and closed his eyes to think. Ron needed confidence, but how could he get him there?
As Harry leaned against the wall in his pocket he could feel the little vial of Felix Felicis potion he had won from Slughorn in potions class. He knew that giving some of the liquid luck to Ron before the match would greatly improve Ron's performance and increase their chances of winning, but it would be cheating and if they were caught it could disqualify the team and get him and Ron disciplined if not expelled. Harry knew it was too risky to try.
But then it came to him. What if Ron only thought he was given the luck potion? What if Harry could get Ron to believe it? Surely Ron would play great then, right?
After thinking about how to get Ron to believe he'd had the potion, a plan formed in his brain. He realized it had to happen at breakfast, and that he would need someone to help. He also knew that Hermione could not be that someone. So, who to ask to help? Who would be willing to help Ron get the confidence he needed?
In a burst of inspiration Harry knew who would help. Pushing himself off the wall, he started off to find this person and get their agreement to help. Now, where do I find Luna?
The next morning Ron and Harry came down to breakfast ready for the match in their Quidditch uniforms. Harry looked calm and confident, but Ron looked like a nervous mess, like he hadn't slept at all that night. Harry looked and smiled when he saw that Luna was positioned just down the table and looked ready to execute Harry's plan. As Ron sat down next to Luna and across from Harry, Harry noticed that Hermione was there as well. He hoped that she wouldn't mess up the plan.
After they had eaten for a while Harry looked over at Luna and gave a slight nod. Luna recognized the signal and immediately asked Ron to pass the pumpkin juice. As Ron turned toward Luna, Harry quickly and surreptitiously pretended to add something to Ron's pumpkin juice. Here's where we get to see Luna's acting ability, Harry thought to himself.
As Ron turned back toward Harry and took a drink of his juice, Luna pointed at Harry and asked quietly, but loud enough for Ron to hear, "Harry, what did you put in Ron's juice? I just saw you put something in his glass."
Before Luna could continue, Hermione looked at Harry and Ron and said, "Harry! You put luck potion in Ron's juice! How could you? Don't you know what could happen in you're caught? It's cheating and you could be expelled!"
Harry took a deep breath. This is better than planned, he thought. Hermione is helping sell the story as well!
As Ron sat there gobsmacked and speechless, Harry turned to Luna and Hermione and calmly said "I don't know what you two are talking about, Luna and Hermione. I didn't put anything in Ron's juice."
Then Harry turned to Ron and smiled and gave him a wink and a nod. Ron's eyes grew wide and a slight smile came to his face as if he understood what he thought had happened. As he understood, his whole countenance changed, he sat up and squared his shoulders, his eyes brightened and he smiled at everyone. He reached across the table and playfully poked Harry's arm.
Luna smiled at the boys while Hermione sat there looking scandalized. Ron stood up and looked across the table. "C'mon Harry, we've got a Quidditch match to win."
Harry and Luna's deception along with Hermione's accidental help paid off as Ron played that match like a man possessed. He made save after save and looked invincible as Gryffindor thoroughly defeated Slytherin 320 - 20. In roughly 40 minutes of play, Ron had only let 2 goals in and he was ecstatic.
When the match ended and the Gryffindor side was doing their victory lap around the pitch, Harry deliberately flew over to where Luna was cheering. He stopped right in front of her, gave her a big smile and simply said, "thanks Luna, see what a difference it made?" Those around Luna looked perplexed, but she paid them no mind.
After some time in the locker room Ginny, Harry, and Ron were walking up from the pitch to the castle laughing and reliving some of the match's best moments, including some amazing saves by Ron when Hermione came up to them and stood right in front of the boys.
"How could you, Harry!?" she yelled, poking him in the chest with her finger. "How could you cheat like that? There's no way that Ron plays that well today without you giving him some luck potion, I can't believe you would cheat like that! I hope you're proud of yourself!"
Harry put a smile on his face and calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out the little vial of the luck potion. Harry showed her that the wax seal on top was still intact and the vial was completely full.
Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all looked surprised, but then a big smile came to Ron. He looked at Harry and Hermione and then said "So, I guess I really did play that well all on my own, right?"
Harry smiled back, "Yeah, Ron, it was all you. I always knew you were an excellent keeper, you just had to believe in yourself. I asked Luna to help me to help you understand. Luna and I knew you just needed a little encouragement from yourself to be great and it was true. See, you are a great keeper when you believe it. We all have confidence in you."
Ron then pulled his best mate into a hug and said, "thanks, mate, thanks for having confidence in me and for helping me to see it and know it myself. From now on, I only have to remember how well I played this match to keep my confidence up. If I can do this against Slytherin, I can do it against anybody. Thank you Harry."
Ron let go of Harry and then turned toward Hermione with an angry scowl on his face. Looking directly at her he calmly but forcefully said, "Not everyone has confidence in me, Harry. Hermione certainly doesn't. If I remember right you said I couldn't play that well without the potion, right?"
Ron raised his hand and pointed directly at her. "Yeah thanks for that Hermione. Yet again you find ways to put me down. Sometimes I even wonder if you're my friend or you just tolerate me because of Harry."
Hermione was shocked at Ron's words and didn't know what to say, She sputtered out "Um, ah, I'm, I'm, I'm really sorry Ron, I'm sorry I doubted you. I do know that you're a great keeper, I do! I do! I'm so sorry!"
Ron turned away but then turned and looked back at her. "I don't think so, Hermione. I don't think so and I'm tired of everything being negative from you. I can't remember the last time you said anything nice or complementary to me, I really can't."
Ron stepped away from Hermione and looked at Harry and asked, "You say Luna helped with this plan of yours, right? You said she wanted to help, yeah?
"Yeah Ron, she wanted to help and she really did a good job."
"Thanks, Harry, now I need to go find her and tell her thanks as well. Thanks again, Harry, I'll see you later, see you Ginny, great match!"
Ron clapped his best mate on the shoulder, kissed his sister on the cheek, purposely turned his back to Hermione and headed off to find Luna.
Ron had much to think about. Hermione's denial of his Quidditch skills really hit him hard. Doesn't she know how important Quidditch is to me? I never get any affirmations from her, just nagging about homework and corrections about my swearing and table manners. When was the last time she said something nice to me? So much for my hope that she might actually fancy me as much as I fancy her. I'm not going to even think that anymore, it's time to accept the obvious that she doesn't feel that way and never will. It's time to move on. Now I have to find Luna and thank her. Luna has always been nice to me and at least she knew I could play well and was willing to help.
With added urgency Ron headed toward the Gryffindor common room, hoping to find Luna there celebrating their victory.
Hermione stood there in a daze as Harry and Ginny also headed back to the castle. She felt the sting of Ron ignoring her as she wondered about his words. She thought to herself, is he right? Am I always negative to him? I don't think so, but maybe? I don't know, but if that's what Ron thinks I don't know what to do.
She shook her head to clear her mind and again thought, I need to talk to Harry! She looked up at the retreating forms of Harry and Ginny and immediately hurried after them.
A/N: updates will be sporadic. sorry